Combined tester-container and pneumatic cleaner for player-pianos.



I. H. HART L A. K. KRAUSS.

COMBINED TESTER CONTAINER AND PNEUMATIC CLEANER FOR PLAYER PIANOS APPLICATION man ocT. I6. 1914.

Patented May 2,1916.

"NTED *STATES FATENT FFE.

JOSEPH HENRY HART AND ALBERT K. KRAUSSJ `0F ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

i COMBINED TESTER-CONTAINER AND PNEUMATIC CLEANER FOR PLAYER-PIANOS.

Speccaton of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1916.

Application led October 16, 1914. Serial No. 866,996.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that we, JOSEPH HENRY HART and ALBERT K. KRAUss, citizens of the United States, residing at Allentown, in the county of Lehigh and State of Pennsylvania, have invented aI new and useful Combined Tester-Container and Pneumatic Gleaner for Player-Pianos; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a combined tester container and pneumatic cleaning device for player pianos, especially adapted for pneumatically removing the dust, dirt, or any other' foreign matter from the pneumatics and bleedholes of a player piano..

As an object of the invention, it is the aim to provide a pneumatic pump, the nippled end of the outer casing of which is provided with a rubber nipple designed to engage over each of the holes of the tracker board, in order to insure a tight t, and as the plunger is withdrawn a suction is created in the bleed holes, and the dirt or foreign matter is drawn .into the pump. The pump is then removed, and subsequently the plunger is again forced into the casing, thereby discharging the refuse.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hollow pump plunger, which constitutes a container to receive a testing roll, to prevent the roll from becoming affected by dampness, which causes a swelling of the paper, which would naturally render the roll useless and ineilicient as a practical tester.

The details of construction may necessitate minor alterations falling within the scope of what is claimed.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts, as hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure l is a perspective view of the pneumatic pump, shown in a position in connection with a tracker board, for pneumatically moving the refuse from the bleed holes or passages. Fig. 2 is Referring to thedrawings, 1 designates the tracker board, over which the sheet 2 (which is provided with a scale of apertures) of the testing roll passes, in order to locate the sluggish or silent notes. The pneumatic pump comprises an outer cylindrical casing 4l having a large Opening at one end as shown at 5, and a reduced nippled end 6 at the opposite portion to receive the rubber nipple 7. lnsertible in the casing is a hollow plunger 8, constituting a container, for the reception of the testing roll 9, to prevent the tester from becoming affected by dampness. A closure member 10 is threaded to the open end of the pump plunger. This closure acts as a kind of handle or knob or hand piece, whereby the pump plunger may be reciprocated.

After having located the sluggish or silent bleed holes or passages, the pump is arranged, so that the rubber nipple is positioned over any one of the silent passages or holes. Upon withdrawing the pump plunger the dust or refuse or other obstruction is removed. The pump is then removed, and the foreign matter is discharged, by forcing the pump plunger telescopically into said casing. Just so soon as finished using the tester roll, the same is placed within the container, thereby avoiding the same from becoming affected.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed as new and useful is An article of manufacture comprising a pneumatic cleaning device for musical instruments and a testing roll for use on such instruments, said device consisting of a cylinder having an opening of a diameter equal to that of the cylinder at one end and an integral apertured head at the other end, a hollow plunger for the cylinder of such diameter throughout its entire length as to ft the bore of the cylinder so closely as to names to this specication in the presence obvlate the use of paokmg, a closure for of two subscribing Witnesses.

threaded engagement With the open end of JOSEPH HENRY HART. the hollow plunger, said hollow plunger and ALBERT K. KRAUSS. closure being adapted to serve as :L storage `Witnesses: receptacle for the testing roll. MARCUS H. BICKERT,

In testimony whereof We have signed our ESTHER M. BIGKERT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for vc cents each, ny addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

